NEW YORK (CBS 2) — Hurricane Irene’s impact in New York and New Jersey revealed a tale of two governors. Both Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie each answered the storm’s call in their own distinctive ways.

If a picture was worth a thousand words, the images of New Jersey Governor Christie hugging, holding and consoling flooded-out Wayne homeowners, including Valerie Meter, are worth a whole lot more.

“I’m here because I got to see stuff like this for myself,” Christie said on Tuesday.

Christie had a hands-on approach to Hurricane Irene — he was all over the state cajoling and listening to constituents. He also empathized with residents while talking of his own loss of property during Hurricane Floyd, CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reported.

“We lost everything we owned, so I understand the emotional feeling. Watching my wife sit in that warehouse and literally watch the pictures of our children disintegrate from the acrid flood water,” Christie said.

It wasn’t until Wednesday — three days after Hurricane Irene left the area — that there were the first pictures of Cuomo not in a cocoon of aides actually getting up close and personal with storm victims.

Many are now saying that based on their actions, Christie became the face of the storm in the Tri-State Area.

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf said that in many ways, Christie has “become the new regional governor.”